Swing.



PATENTED MAY 5, 1908.

W'. T. GREEN.

SWING.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27. 1905.

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APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27, 1905.

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PATENTED MAY 5, 190s. W. T. GREEN. v

SWING. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27, 1905.

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No. 886.799. PATENTED MAY 5, 1908. W. T. GREEN.

SWING.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27. 1905.

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WILLIAM THOMAS GREEN, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

SWING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 5, 1908.

Application filed. September 27, 1905. Serial No. 280,292.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM T. GREEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Norfolk, Norfolk county, Virginia, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Swings; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements in what are commonlycalled lawn or porch swings.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved swing of a durableand efficient construction embodying depending swinging bails and aswing platform detachably resting on the bails and extendinghorizontally between the same and carrying one or more chairs or otherseats.

A further object of the invention is to provide certain improvementsinvolving additions to the essential structure'or the embodiment of myinvention in its most simple form described in the preceding paragraphfor the purpose of producing devices capable of many adjustments andinvolving various combinations.

My invention consists in certain novel features in construction and incombinations and arrangements of parts as more fully describedhereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which show various constructionsfrom among others within the scope of my invention 1-Figure l, is aperspective view showing my device adjusted to form a two chair lawn orporch swing, the device being shown provided with a canopy, having sideand end curtains, the curtains being shown raised and rolled up. Fig. 2,is a side elevation of the swing, the chairs being shown adjusted tovarious positions, the canopy not being shown. Fig. 3, is a similar viewto Fig. 2 but showing one of the chairs adjusted to form a crib or cot.Fig. 4, is also a side elevation of the swing showing the two Achairsadjusted to form a single elongated cot or the like. Fig. 5, is a sideelevationshowing the swinging platform and chairs removed from the swingframe and adjusted to form a double rocker. Fig. is a detail perspectiveview, partially broken away, of a portion of the framework of thehorizontal swinging platform showing the folding rockers, one ofthe-rockers being folded down in operative position, and the other beingshown folded up in inoperative position dotted lines indicating aportion of one of the U-shaped swinging links or bails of the swing. Fig. 7, is a side elevation of a single chair and its frame separated andadjusted to form a rocker. Fig. 8, is a side elevation of a single chairand its frame separated or detached, and adjusted to form a crib andprovided with rolling supports. Fig. 9, is a cross sectional view takenin the plane of the line 9.-9,Fig. 3.

In the drawings, I show a swing support or frame, comprising ahorizontal rectangular base or sup orting frame comprising thelongitudinal si e bars l, and cross bars 2, secured to the end portionsof the side bars. Either 'or both of the end bars 2, can be formed insections, if so desired, comprising a swinging or detachableintermediate section, one end secured by a hinge 3, and at the other enddetachably secured by coupling plate 4, held by bolts. This intermediatesection of an end cross bar is in length usually greater by a few inchesthan the width of the horizontal platform of the swing, hereinafterdescribed, so that the said platform of the swing can be moved easilylongitudinally to or from the base frame of the swing through an endthereof when said intermediate section is released by the removal of thecoupling plate 4.a and swung outwardly.l By employing the sectional endbars 2, I am also enabled to knock down the swing supporting frame, forconvenient packing. At the four corners of said bottom frame and swingsupport, I arrange rigidly secured and braced vertical posts or uprights4, so that each end, of said base frame is provided with a pair ofvertical corner posts 4. provided at their upper ends with alinedhorizontal journal boxes arranged transversely thereof, and receivingthe upper out-turned or horizontal journal ends 5 of a U-shapeddepending swinging bail or link 6.

Two bails 6 are provided, one for each pair of posts 4. Each bail isformed of a single piece of bar or rod iron, or other suitable metal,bent to form the horizontal transverse portion of a length slightly lessthan the distance between the two posts 4, and the two upright verticallegs extending up at the inner faces of the two posts 4 and The posts 4of each pair are CAD n zontal parts or lengths of the bails 6.

terminating with the out-turned journal portions 5 at their upper ends.

The horizontal platform 'of the swing at its ends rests detachably orremovably on and extends between the horizontal portions of said twoU-shaped bails, and is provided with thechairs or other seats so that asthe said bails swing, the platform reciprocates back and forth, alwaysmaintaining its -horizontal position.

If so desired, .I can provide uprights or supports 7, removably orotherwise boltedl lar` frame having the depressed floor or bottom 1()closing the opening within the frame. The frame comprises longitudinalside and end `boards or planks 11, preferably arranged vertically or onedge so. as to projectv vertically a distance above the licor 10.

The-frame formed :by the boards 11, is in length less than the distance`between the pairs of end posts y4 andthe bails 6, and

encelbottom longitudinal bars 12 are provided rigidly secured to andforming a part ofthe swing platform and at their ends projectingoutwardly beyond the ends of the framell. The ends of the bars 12 reston and. are usually detachably bolted to the cross bars 13 projectinglaterally beyond the endsof the bars 12. The bars 13 are provvided ywithdepending bearingfblocks 14 rigidly secured thereto and detachablyresting on the end portions of the bottom hrpiie bearing blocks 14, arepreferably formed of metal having transverse bearing grooves ordepressions at their under surfaces, see Fig. 6, to detachably .rest onthe bottom horizontal.` ortions of the bails, whereby the swinglplatform can be easily lifted and removed from the bails, and as easilyap lied thereto. The end cross bars 13 exten a proximately the fulldistance between tfie vertical portions of thebails 6 and serve to holdthe swing platform against lateral play in the bails.

In the specific example illustrated, I show the swing platform providedwith a pair of longitudinal folding rockers, so arranged and constructedthat when the device is used as a swing as in Fig. 1, these rockers areheld out of theway and folded up at the bottom of the platform.

The device can-be converted into a porch bolted to the upper portions ofthe purpose, I show the rockers 15 each formed l in sections andarranged lon itudinally of and securedby hinges 16 to the ongitudinalbars 12, so that theirockers canfold u wardly and inwardly between thebars 12 an to the under side of thefloor 10 so as to be out of the wayand practically concealed beneath the swing platform. I The rockers canbe heldinthis folded inoperative -positionby suitable means such asswinging hooks 17. Whenv in operative position, the rockers are arrangedinthe vertical planes of the bars 12 and rest along their toplongitudinal edges against the bottom longitudinal edges of said bars12. Suitable means can be provided for detachably locking the rockers inoperative position. For instance, I show swingin bottomslS pivoted tothe-.inner edges oftie bars 12 to swing down at the inner faces of7therockers when in operative position, to thereby hold the rockersagainst foldingv inwardly and vupwardly.

When the device is to be used as a rocker andv after the platform. hasbeen removed ,from the bails 6, I usually remove the sup? porting endcross bars 13, so as to give the rocker a more extensive range ofmovement.

I show two chairs arranged at opposite ends of the frame 11 of the swingplatform. These chairs faceeach other and are normally separated asuflicient distance to leave thelcenr tral portion of the platform freeforpassage to and from the chairs.

I show, each chair composed lof fourlegs vertically disposed and bolted.or otherwise secured against the inner verticalfaces of the side boardsof the frame 11. The two back .legs 19 are usually arranged at thecorners of the frame 11 and project above the same, and the front legs20 are secured to the rear legs 19 by the side pieces 21. The back oflthe chair is shown composed of 'two sections 22, and 23, pivotallyunited by the hinges 24, so that the top section 23 canv swing forwardlyfrom the positioninV direct upward continua tion of the bottom section22 of the back. The bottom section 22 is hinged 'at 25 to the upper endsof the legs 19 so as to be'capable o swinging rearwardly from a position1n die rect upward continuationof said legs,

The position ofthe back of the chair is determinedA and the back isupheld by thefside armslor. links 26, at the front ends ivotally 20, andat their rear portions having a series of notches in their lower edgesto receive the pins or bolts 27 projecting laterally from the ack, sothat the back can be shifted to various angles of inclination and heldby said links. The head or top section 23 of the back is held in thedesired osition by the side links 28 pivotally joinen to said section 23and at their front ends provided with any suitable adjustable securingmeans. For instance, I show the front ends of said links 28 cut off atan angle to rest on the top edges of the front portions of the links 26and provided with movable pins 29 passing therethrough and ada ted todro into holes 3() arranged vertically in the inks 26, each link 26having a series of sockets or holes 30 so that the head sections 23 canbe held at various positions by placing said pins in different holes orsockets.

3l, is the chair seat which, in the specific example illustrated,consists of a series of slats secured rigidly together and having theirprojecting ends removably resting on side bars 21 of the chair so thatthe seat with its attached parts, hereinafter mentioned, can be removed.I show the seat provided with a swinging front apron hinged to the frontedges of the seat to swing vertically, and this apron is shown composedof two pivotally united or hinged sections 32, 33. The apron is soarranged that the sections thereof can fold approximately together andswing under the seat and outof the way as shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 7, andby the right hand chair of Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The apron can be swungoutwardly to assume various positions and form a leg or foot rest, andthe section 33 can be omitted, or if desired, the entire apron can beomitted. In left hand chair of Fig. 2, section 33, is shown folded downon section 32, and the apron upheld in an inclined position by a braceor leg 32/, hinged to section 32, and swung down to rest on floor 10.

I show pivoted or folding supporting legs or braces 34, each at one endpivoted to the central portion of the side boards of the frame 11 sothat said legs can fold down to horizontal positions at the inner facesof said boards as shown in Fig. 1. The legs 34 can independently swingupwardly to the vertical position, see Figs. 3 and 4, to support eitheror both aprons in various positions.

The chairs as just described are capable of many adjustments so that theoccupant can assume various inclined positions or so that one of thechairs can be converted into a crib, see Fig. 3, for a child or infant,the other chair being left in its normal position so that a person canoccupy the same while the child.

is in the crib.

An extra removable link 35 can be provided to hold the section 33, ofthe apron in the upright position, shown in Figs. 3 and 8,

to close the en'd of the crib, while the head section of the back closesthe opposite end of the crib.

AA cot or couch on which an adult can recline at full length can beformed by the two chairs, as shown in Fig. 4, by adjusting the apron ofone of the chairs to bridge the space between the two chair seats and byadjusting the chair backs with the section 22, horizontal and the headsections 23 extending vertically therefrom.

The swing platform can be centrally and transversely divided into twosections, and the rockers are also correspondingly divided so that eachplatform section will have its own rocker. The platform sections arenormally rigidly secured together by strong metal coupling plates 36detachably and longitudinally secured to the longitudinal board 1]., andto the bars 12, and bridging the meeting ends of the sections, bysuitable bolts, as shown in Figs.l 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Hence, when theplatform is removed from the swing that is from the bails 6, thecoupling plates 36 can be removed, and the platform thereby separatedinto two-independent sections each provided with its own chair, eachchair having its own platform, and capable of being adjusted to form anindependent or individual rocking chair as shown by Fig. 7 which can beadjusted in various positions.

If desired, rolling supports can be provided for the individual chairs.For instance, in Fig. 8, I show the detachable legs 37 applied to theplatform sections and provided with bottom rollers, whereby theindividual chair can be easily rolled or moved around.

Attention is particularly directed to the` fact that the posts 4 andbails 6 of the swing are arranged at the eXtreme ends of the plattormand in rear of the chair seats, thereby reducing to a minimum the dangerof the hands or arms of the chair occupants being caught between thebails and chairs during the swinging movement of the device. Possibilityof such injury is also reducedby arranging the swing platformconsiderably less in width than the length of the horizontal portions ofthe bails 6, so that the vertical portions of the bails are spacedseveral inches from the adjacent chairs.

What I claim is 1. In a swing, in combination, a swing platform,swinging supports therefor, said platform detachably resting on saidsupports, a pair of chairs mounted on the platform, bottom longitudinalrockers fixed to said platform and adapted to support the same whenremoved from said supports, said platform and rockers being transverselydivided into two approximately similar sections, each provi ded with achair and rockers, and means normally securing said sections rigidlytogether, substantially as described.

2. In a. lawn swing, in Combination, a frame swinging supports, ahorizontally disposed swing platform extending between and carried bysaid supports and at its end portions removably resting thereon, wherebyform at the end portions thereof, respectively,

and normally inoperative supporting devices for said platformseetionsadapted to separately uphold the same when removed from said swingingsupports, substantially as described.

ln combination, in a swing, a supporting frame, a pair of dependingU-shaped swinging bails carried thereby, a swing platform removablyresting on and extending between said bails and comprising a rectangularframe having a depressed floor and vertically disposed side and endboards projecting vertically above said floor, said frame in lengthbeingless than the distance betweenthe bails and in Width-being lessthan the length of the horizontal bottom cross bar of each bail, saidplatform being provided with endlongitudinally projecting bars extendingthroughy said bails and cross bars carried by and projecting laterallybeyond said bars to form stops to engage the vertical legs of the bailsand having open bearing blocks resting on the bottom cross lbars of thebails, chairs arranged at the ends of the floor inclosed by saidvertically disposed boards and securedv thereto, longitudinally arrangedfolding rockers arranged at the under side of said platform,

. said platform and rockers being transversely Adivided to form twoseparable sections each having a chair and rockers, and means detachablylocking said sections together to form one swing and rocker platform.

4. In a lawn swing, in combination, a supporting frame, swinging bailscarried thereby, a rectangular swing latform comprising longitudinalbars, saidA platform having corner extensions carried by said bars andremovably resting on said bails, whereby the platform is normally suported in a horizontal position by said bai s and whereby the platformcan be liftedrfrom said bails and removed from said frame, chai-rsmounted on said platform, and longitudinal rockers located at the underside'of said platform and along their upper longitudinal edges hinged tosaid longitudinal bars between said corner extensions and normallyarranged in inoperative posit-ion with respect to the platform, wherebywhen the platform is removed from the bails it can'rest on said rockers.

5. A swing platform provided with chairs and with a pairfofl fixedlongitudinal bars, and a pair of longitudinally arranged inwardlyfolding rockers, along their upper edges hingedy to said bars to restlongitudinally against the same, and means for holding the same inoperative and in folded or inoperative position beneath the platform andbetween said bars, substantially. as described.

6. ln combination, a supporting frame provided with dependingswinging'bails, and a swing platform detachably resting on and supportedby and removable from said bails and provided with longitudinal bottomrockers, said rockers being movable into inoperative position in thebottom of the platform, whereby the platform canv be removed from the'bails and used as a platform rocker, said platform having longitudinalportions against which thev upper longitudinal edges of said rockersbear throughout their lengths when in operative position, substantiallyas described.

7. ln combination, a supporting frame having'end uprights, a pair of deending swinging bails carried by said uprig ts and having bottomtransverse portions, a horizontal swing platform having removablelateral end extensions removably resting on the transverse portions ofsaid bails and thereby supporting said platform, seats mounted on saidplatform, and longitudinal rockers arranged at the under side of.y saidplatform between said lateral end extensions, and adapted to form arocking support for saidy platform when lifted from said bails and saidend-extensions are removed, substantially as described.

8. ln combination, in a swing, a su porting frame, a pair of dependingU-s 1a ed swinging bails carried thereby, aswing p atform removablyresting on and extending between said bails and comprising a rec- 105tangular frame having a depressed Afloor and vertically disposed sideand end boards projecting vertically above said floor, said frame inlength being less than the distance between the bails and in width beingless than 110 the length of the horizontal bottom cross portion of eachbail, said platform beingl provided with end longitudinallyprojecting'bars extendingI through said bails, and cross bars carried byand arranged over and parallel 115 with the cross portions of the bailsand projecting laterally beyond said bars to form stops to engagethevertical legs of the bails and having bearing blocks resting on saidcross portions, and chairs arranged at the 120 ends of the Vlioorinclosed by said vertically disposed boards and secured thereto.

9. ln combination, in a swing, a su porting frame, a pair of dependingU- raped swinging bails carried thereby, and a hori- 125v -zontallydisposed swing platform removably f horizontal bottom cross portion ofeach bail, on said cross portions of the bails, substanand provided Withend longitudinally pro- `tially as described. 10 jeoting bars extendingthrough said bails, In testimony whereof I affix my signature7 and Crossbars arranged over the cross porin presence of two Witnesses.

5 tions of said bails and secured to and pro- WILLIAM THOMAS GREEN.

jecting laterally beyond said longitudinal I/Vitnesses: bars toward theVertical legs of the bails and v JAMES P. COX,

having open bottom bearing blocks resting JOHN I. COFER.

